WILL Episodes 1&2

TNT has a dynamite new show called WILL that debuted on Monday night, July 10, with its first two episodes.  WILL is a fictional depiction of William Shakespeare’s rise to fame, but weaves in elements of truth, both in regards to William Shakespeare’s life, and London’s culture, during that time period circa 1589.  While the torture and sex scenes are graphic and blunt, resulting in an MA rating, a mature audience can appreciate the brilliant writing and acting that, based on the first two episodes, make it worth your time to watch this ten episode show that airs on TNT, Monday nights, at 9:00 P.M. EDT.   Regardless of whether you are a fan of William Shakespeare’s works, you will find this historical drama, created by Craig Pearce, to be intriguing and entertaining.

 

English actor Laurie Davidson brings the character of William Shakespeare to life, becoming a believable and likeable central protagonist.  Will comes to London with aspirations of theatrical success, as a playwright.  He meanwhile conceals his Catholic faith, as it would make him a marked man, under the reign of Queen Elizabeth. 

 

Ewen Bremner portrays Richard Topcliffe, the central antagonist who is based on a historical torturer who served under Queen Elizabeth as an inhumane persecutor of Catholics.  Bremner excels at delivering self-righteous hypocrisy and condescending arrogance masqueraded as piety, all designed to deliberately make this character absolutely despicable.  He refers to his religion merely as “Protestant,” perhaps not to draw ire for the show’s negative depiction of the Church of England, at that time.

 

As a devout Catholic, while I find the torture scenes difficult to take, I feel no anger towards the Church of England, but feel gratefulness towards God that He placed me in a nation with religious freedom, my ancestors carrying the Catholic Faith with them, when they immigrated to America.   I am inspired by the brave martyrdom of Catholics before me, while I realize that no modern members of the Church of England are responsible for atrocities committed more than four hundred years ago.  I have also gained an even deeper appreciation for the United States Constitution’s banning or cruel and unusual punishments, and for all the troops who fought to defend these liberties that seem so unalienable, yet have been denied to so many people, historically, and are still denied today, in many places.

 

While Shakespeare was married with three children at the time he came to London, that has not stopped this fictional account of his life from taking the poetic license to attempt to provide him with a fictional, but obviously forbidden, potential love interest, perhaps to be a Juliet to his Romeo.  Actress Olivia DeJonge is magnificent in her portrayal of the very likeable Alice Burbage, who takes reciprocated romantic interest in Will, until he admits to her that he has a wife.  Alice speaks towards a real issue adversely impacting British women of her day, that if not a monarchy, they were not given prominent roles in society and were often forced into prostitution to survive.  Her powerfully delivered line, “Yes, I am that most useless of creatures, an educated woman,” addresses the struggle felt even by the daughter and sister of prominent members of the theatre.

 

Alice is the fictional daughter of James Burbage, based on a real theatre builder and owner who had a real son Richard Burbage who was a legendary actor.  Colm Meaney and Mattias Inwood portray James and Richard Burbage, respectively, bringing justice and believability to real people who were stars of the stage.

 

Actress Kristy Philipps conveys feelings so well that she radiates the emotional horror of a woman who feels financially trapped in prostitution, in her role of Apelina, the older sister of an adolescent boy named Presto who is willing to do anything, even potentially murder someone, in order to acquire enough money to save his sister from prostitution.  While, as a Catholic, I do not believe that illicit means to a desired positive outcome make gravely sinful actions morally permissible, I still have sympathy for these siblings, and feel that they very realistically communicate the trauma of people who feel financially stuck in jobs they despise, and the adverse impact such a situation has upon their close family and friends who feel helpless in freeing them from their situation.

 

Jamie Campbell Bower plays Christopher Marlowe, a mysterious character of questionable motives.  He deceives Richard Topcliffe in order to save Will’s life, a deception, however, that ultimately results in another man’s death, a death that Christopher Marlowe tries to rationalize, based on Will’s talent.  Will, however, upon discovering this information, is very displeased that someone else had been killed, when he (Will) was the intended target.

 

William Shakespeare’s revolution of theatre is indirectly compared to British punk rock’s revolution of music, as songs from the Clash, the Jam, the Sex Pistols, and others are heard at different times, fitting in well with the tone of the action on the screen, as if those songs had been William Shakespeare’s inspiration, both in his writing and his ambitions.  

 

I look forward to next week’s new episode, and plan to follow it with a new review. Please tune in to TNT at 9:00 P.M. EDT on Monday, July 17, and come back here next week to see my review of the third episode.  I predict it will be worth your time!